I have recently seen literature stating to only clean hub of pigtail when changing needless connector only when there is dried blood. The article I read talked about what alcohol does to the hub of the pigtail, making it difficult to remove the needless connector. Can't find the article again and wondered if anyone knows if this is accurate. Thank you, Warren Willard
Catheter hubs and the pigtail extension set are made of different plastics. Alcohol is a solvent for ALL plastics, but works on some faster than others. The best thing to do is check with the specific manufacturer to find their specific recommendations. If you were reading an opinion article, I would always look at the references supporting statements like this do see where the author is deriving the information. Is it coming from a lab study, a clinial study, or something else? Hubs need to be cleaned also and it is true that alcohol may soften some of them. And when you attach the next connector or set, it will fuse together. ALWAYS make sure that the alcohol is thoroughly dry before attaching the new set!
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861